According to the transactions page on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ website, infielder Jung Ho Kang has elected free agency. This, obviously, would indicate that the team did not pick up Kang’s $5.5 million option for the 2019 season.
Kang’s option being declined is not a big surprise. After missing all of 2017 due to work visa issues, Kang, partially due to wrist surgery, saw just six MLB at bats in 2018. All six of these at bats came during the Pirates’ season-ending three-game series in Cincinnati.
Paying Kang $5.5 million in 2019 could have been a bit of a risk for the Pirates.